Electrical connecter



oct. im 19% moassz W. J. GAGNON ELECTRICAL CONNECTER Original Filed Feb. 29, 1924 Patented Oct. 19, 192.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J'. GAG-NON, OF IBRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BEAD CHAIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 0F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL CONNECTER.

Original application filed February 29, 1924, Serial No. 695,972. Divided and this application filed ctober 14, 1925.

Reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures therein. This application is a division of an application iled by me February 29, 1924, Serial No. 695,972, for electrical connecters.

The principal object of the invention is to obtain a more effective engagement between the cooperating contact portions of the connecter.

Other objects will appear in connection with the following description.

Fig-1 of the drawings is a View in side elevation of a socket-member of an electrical connecter with the housing partly brokenaway to expose to view the two contactsockets which are made *in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of a broken-away portion of the lug-member of the connecter, showing in 'si e elevation the two plugs, and illustrating diagrammatically a resistance included in the circuit 'between the plugs.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the socketmember taken on the broken line 3-3 in' Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation on an enlarged scale ofone of the Contact sockets as shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale taken on the broken line `5--5 in Fig. 2 through one of the contact-plugs andthe plug-enclosing contact-socket.

Referring to the drawings wherein the invention is shown in preferred form, I -have shown the socket-member, 1, provided with two contact-sockets, 3, and the plug-member, 2, provided with two plugs, 4, -although my invention is equally applicable to a single contact-socket, 3, and a single plug, 4A

In the drawings I have shown the invention applied to an electrical connecter as used for ordinary household devices such as toasters, coffee percolators, electric flat-irons and the like, in which case a plurality of contactsockets and plugs are employed, the plugmember, 2, being the device to be heated by means of a resistance, 5, included in the circuit between the plugs, 4.

I preferably make the plug in the form of a. hollow post, splitl longitudinally along Serial No. 62,481.

one side as shown at 6; and form the wall of the plug of two metals, 7 and 8, of split oylindrical form welded or otherwise secured together, the inner member, 8, having a higher coefficient of expansion than the outer member, 7, whereby under the action of heat the post tends to expand or increase in diameter. The plug may be made solid if preferred.

In applying my invention to a contactsocket, 3, I form the socket of two complementary members, 3a and 3b, each in an arc of a circle in cross-section and adapted to present concaved or cylindrical surfaces to the inserted plug.

These concaved surfaces are preferably formed by inbent longitudinal edge portions of the body of the respective socket-members as shown; but they may be formed in any otherknown manner.

The two vsocket-members are connected together by means of a binding-screw, 5, which also serves as a means for connecting aline-wire with the contact-socket.

The connected-together socket-members are adapted to receive between them a contact-plug, 4.

Each socket-member, 3a and 3b, is composed of two metals welded or otherwise secured together, the outer metal, 3, having a higher coefficient of expansion than the inner metal, 3d.

Each socket-member thus includes a thermostatic member tending under the action of heat to contract the member and thus to reduce the radius of the arc of its plug-engaging surface.

The operation of the device is as follows:

A plug, 4, is inserted in a socket, 3, they being made to approximately fit together with the socket of normal diameter. When the electric current is transmitted. between the contact-socket, 3, and the plug, 4, if the plug does not fit suliciently tightly within the contact-socket, the socket and plug become heated, causing the plug to tend to expand and the contact-socket members to tend to contract, due to their respective thermostatic constructions.`

The split portion vof the wall of the plug thus tends to move under the action of heat toward the wall of the cooperative contactsocket; and in a similar manner the walls of the contact-socket under the action of heat tend to move toward tact-plug.

*Any looseness in the fitting of the plug within the contact-socket is thus automatically corrected in the operation of the dev1ce.

In the use of -electrical connecters of the type to which this invention is particularly applicable, there is a tendency for the resilient and tempered parts to become annealed under the action of great heat developed in the use of the electrically heated device to which the electric current is supplied through the connecter, resulting in loose contacts and resultant arcing between conthe cooperative contact-surfaces which should be in close contact with each other. c

My invention tends to overcome this difficulty by automatically increasing the pressure between contacting surfaces as the temperature of the connecter parts increases.

l do not wish to be limited to the constructions shown and above described, as, for certain purposes of the invention, various changes may be made in the form and arrangement of various parts of the device without departing from the spirit of the. invention.

It will also be understood that claims to patentable features of the connecter illustrated, broader-than those appended hereto, are not waived. Such generic claims are presented in the aforesaid original application Serial Number 695,972, and one or more of the other divisional cases thereof heretofore filed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A connecterv for electrical conductors including a contact-socket formed of two cooperative arc-shaped. members adapted to engage an inserted contact-plug, one of said members having a thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to reduce the radius of its arc.

2. A connecter for electrical conductors including la contact-socket formed of' two cooperative arc-shaped member-s adapted 1 to engage an inserted contact-plug, eachof said members having a thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to reduce the radius of its arc.

3. A connecter for electrical conductors including a contact-socket formed of two cooperative arc-shaped members secured together at their inner ends and adapted to engage an inserted contact-plug, one of said members having a thermostatic element tending under the action of heat to reduce the radius of its arc.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of September,

WllLLAM J. GAGNON. 

